Page 32 of Underworld

Seeing that the other guys are okay, I frantically look around to find Alec. I find him shooting at our enemies, but then I hear him grunt. As I watch, blood sprays across his arm. Fuck, a bullet grazed him! He shoots off a few more rounds before another shot rings out, and he falls to the ground.

I’m trying not to panic because I know the guys were wearing their bulletproof vests when we left the house. I hear a very un-human growl and look toward the sound. I’m shocked to find Howe on a full rampage.

Holy fucking shit. If I was on the other end of that growl and pure rage . . . I would shit myself. No joke.

Alec lets out a groan as he rolls onto his belly. Howe doesn’t pay him any attention, though. He’s busy cutting down and shooting anyone in his path. I look around to find that there aren’t any enemies left. Howe . . . killed them all. Holy shit.

My eyes widen as he turns around. He’s standing there panting, completely covered in blood. He takes in his surroundings for just a moment before he looks down at Alec. As if just now realizing that Alec is fine, his eyes widen. “Fucking hell, Alec! You scared the shit out of me.”

I stand from my position and walk over to them as my racing heart begins to slow.

Alec laughs, then groans, “It fucking hurt like a bitch and knocked the wind out of me.”

Howe puts away his weapons before holding out a hand to help him up. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks.

Alec rubs at the spot he was hit, not taking off the vest just yet. “I’m sure I’ll have a large bruise.”

Jace runs over to us and yells, “Stop talking and get into the fucking car!”

No arguments here. We all hustle into the car. The car is silent as Alpha and Beta drive us back to the house. Once home, we exit the car as a unit and don’t divide up until we get inside.

Jace growls as he stomps his way up the stairs. I point in the direction he went and ask, “Where is he going?”

Zane huffs out a sigh but follows Jace up the stairs. “He’s going to the office to come up with a plan.” He pauses, looks down at us, and says, “I’m going to try to help out. Howe, you definitely need a shower. Jane can help put some of that bruise balm on Alec’s chest.”

Zane skips a few steps as he makes his way down the hallway to help Jace. I look over to my other boys and smile. “Well, you heard the man. Let’s go.”

We settle into what I assume is Howe’s room. Alec takes off his shirt and vest, hissing in the process. My nose scrunches up at the darkening bruise on his chest.

Alec laughs. “That bad?”

I scoop out a glob of bruise balm and rub it over the ever-expanding area. “It will definitely bruise even with the balm.”

Alec just shrugs and says, “I’ve had worse.” Once I’m done applying the balm to his chest, he stretches out on the bed and closes his eyes. It doesn’t take long before his soft snores fill the quiet room.

Howe exits the bathroom in a cloud of steam. He looks over to see Alec snoring and smiles. He saunters over to the bed to snuggle up to Alec. I watch as he runs his fingers softly through Alec’s hair, almost as if reassuring himself that Alec is okay.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Howe shifts his gaze over to me and says, “Sure.”

I point between him and Alec. “How did this all start?”

He smirks. “Well, to explain how our relationship started, I would have to tell you about the day he killed Foster Fuck.”

“Foster Fuck?” I repeat, a little confused.

Howe frowns. “Our Foster dad.”

I nod. I remember them saying that the guy was a total asshole. He was also a child fucker, so I don’t really feel bad that the guy is gone. Making myself comfortable on the bed, I say, “I’m all ears.”

His gaze shifts back to Alec as he continues playing with his hair. “So about nine years ago or so . . .”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Howe

About nine years ago . . .

---